RVing to Alaska: Resources for Planning Your RV Journey to the Last Frontier
The roads are terrible! The mosquitoes are as big as your head! It never stops raining! You’ll get robbed along the ALCAN, or break down in the middle of nowhere without cell phone service! Grizzlies are everywhere and they break into RV’s and cars! You’ll run out of gas! You’ll destroy your vehicle! The border guards will search your RV!
And on and on the rumors fly…
Last year at this time, these were some of the worries running through our heads as we planned our Alaskan adventures. We are so glad that we did not give in nor give up on our dreams. This trip gave us not only a lifetime of stories, but also a new found confidence in how we choose to travel with our vintage camper.After nearly a decade of full-time RV living, we finally made it to our 50th U.S. state, our Last Frontier, in 2022! We spent 5 months traveling from Bellingham, WA through British Columbia, a small portion of Northwest Territories, the Yukon, all around Alaska, and back to Washington. It was more than worth every pothole, every frost heave, every cent spent on gas, and hundreds of hours behind the wheel.
If you’ve been considering this trip in your RV, you’ve probably heard all the same rumors that we had; and like all rumors, there’s only a bit of truth. But if you let the rumors and worst-case scenarios stop you from going…you’ll miss out on an absolutely spectacular part of North America that is nothing like anything else we’ve ever seen in our travels!
"There is one word of advice and caution to those intending to visit Alaska...if you are old, by all means go, but if you are young, wait. The scenery of Alaska is much grander than anything else of its kind in the world, and it is not wise to dull one's capacity for enjoyment by seeing the finest first."
~ Henry Gannett, Member of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition
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Here's what we cover in this blog:
Size Matters
Just how big is Alaska? Its width stretches from the San Francisco Bay to Jacksonville, Florida and its land mass is almost equivalent to the central part of our great nation, approximately 2.5 times the size of Texas! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words…
Getting To & From Alaska
There are various ways to begin your journey to RVing in Alaska, depending on your time, budget, and what you’d like to see and do.
• Drive your RV: There are various ways to approach, all of them lengthy and gorgeous!
• Ferry with your RV: From Washington or British Columbia to Alaska – An unbelievable journey through the inner passage, that’s not inexpensive, but it’ll get you there much faster.
• Fly or Cruise & Rent an RV: Fly into Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, then rent an RV. There are many options to choose from, including but not limited to: Great Alaskan Holidays, Outdoorsy, and RVShare.
How Long Does it Take to Get to Alaska?
We chose to take a month to get from the Washington border to Haines, Alaska, but speed is never our goal. We know people who’ve driven from Bellingham, WA to Anchorage in a week – good for them, that’s not us. We wander so slowly that we were actually passed by a dude walking his way from Tierra del Fuego (the tip of Argentina) to the Arctic Ocean in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska! Seriously, we met Oli and his dog Carlitos along the ALCAN, then took a long side trip to Glacier Bay National Park, and by the time we returned to the highway in the Yukon, he'd taken the lead. We stopped to chat as we passed him again and share some fresh baked goods!
Just for some perspective, the driving distance from the WA, ID, or MT border is about 2000 miles to Tok, Alaska, shortly across the border of the interior of the state. If you are coming from the Midwest, add another 1200-1500 miles. Needless to probably say, Canada is vast and there are very few major roads, but taking your time through Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory is absolutely worth the journey on so many levels. With so many beautiful places to hike, kayak, bike, explore, and simply be, it is absolutely worth taking your time.
Most of the roads are in much better condition than the rumors let on, but many sections have their challenges, so plan on the drive taking 2-3x longer than normal. If you have driven on backroads or forest roads in any rural part of the U.S., you’ve already experienced these conditions, they just might be for longer periods of time than you are used to. To give you a first-hand look at the conditions of which we are referring, we kept the cameras rolling from the front seat of our truck.
Here's what we cover in this blog:
- Getting To & From Alaska
- Road Conditions: Tips & Warnings
- Advice for Crossing the Border
- Life Above the 60th Parallel
- Camping in Canada & Alaska
- National Parks in Alaska
- Unforgettable Trips & Tours
- Must Have Resources!
Size Matters
Just how big is Alaska? Its width stretches from the San Francisco Bay to Jacksonville, Florida and its land mass is almost equivalent to the central part of our great nation, approximately 2.5 times the size of Texas! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words…
Getting To & From Alaska
There are various ways to begin your journey to RVing in Alaska, depending on your time, budget, and what you’d like to see and do.
• Drive your RV: There are various ways to approach, all of them lengthy and gorgeous!
• Ferry with your RV: From Washington or British Columbia to Alaska – An unbelievable journey through the inner passage, that’s not inexpensive, but it’ll get you there much faster.
• Fly or Cruise & Rent an RV: Fly into Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, then rent an RV. There are many options to choose from, including but not limited to: Great Alaskan Holidays, Outdoorsy, and RVShare.
How Long Does it Take to Get to Alaska?
We chose to take a month to get from the Washington border to Haines, Alaska, but speed is never our goal. We know people who’ve driven from Bellingham, WA to Anchorage in a week – good for them, that’s not us. We wander so slowly that we were actually passed by a dude walking his way from Tierra del Fuego (the tip of Argentina) to the Arctic Ocean in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska! Seriously, we met Oli and his dog Carlitos along the ALCAN, then took a long side trip to Glacier Bay National Park, and by the time we returned to the highway in the Yukon, he'd taken the lead. We stopped to chat as we passed him again and share some fresh baked goods!
Just for some perspective, the driving distance from the WA, ID, or MT border is about 2000 miles to Tok, Alaska, shortly across the border of the interior of the state. If you are coming from the Midwest, add another 1200-1500 miles. Needless to probably say, Canada is vast and there are very few major roads, but taking your time through Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory is absolutely worth the journey on so many levels. With so many beautiful places to hike, kayak, bike, explore, and simply be, it is absolutely worth taking your time.
Most of the roads are in much better condition than the rumors let on, but many sections have their challenges, so plan on the drive taking 2-3x longer than normal. If you have driven on backroads or forest roads in any rural part of the U.S., you’ve already experienced these conditions, they just might be for longer periods of time than you are used to. To give you a first-hand look at the conditions of which we are referring, we kept the cameras rolling from the front seat of our truck.
Two Highways Into & Out of Alaska
If you choose to drive from the lower 48, there are various ways to approach Alaska, but only two highways that actually allow you to cross the border from the Yukon Territory into the Alaskan interior. Both options have their beauty, as well as their challenging road conditions.
No matter which highway you choose to get into and through Canada, at some point you’ll end up on the ALCAN Hwy which starts in British Columbia (BC) – specifically from Dawson Creek, BC through the Yukon Territory (YT) to Fairbanks, Alaska. The second option is the Top of the World Highway which runs between Whitehorse, YT and Tetlin Junction, AK.
You can also enter southeastern Alaska via British Columbia via either Haines, AK or Skagway, AK. Some folks choose to ferry from either of these towns into Seward, Alaska in order to avoid the worst part of the ALCAN’s road surface. Let’s break these options down a bit more…
Option #2 - Top of the World Highway: This is really two highways. Coming in from the Yukon, the Top of the World Highway is the Klondike Highway, while in Alaska it is referred to as the Taylor Highway. Combined, these highways run from Whitehorse, YT to Tetlin Junction, AK – with an option to go as far north as Eagle, AK. These highways are a combination of chip & seal and unpaved roads, which are winding and narrow, and can be very slippery and muddy when wet. It is a slow slog. Fall color can be spectacular, but winter comes much earlier up here.
While the ALCAN border crossing is open year-round, the border crossing on the Top of the World Highway (in Poker Creek - Little Gold Creek) opens up once the Yukon River ice breaks up. With no bridge across the Yukon River, you must take the ferry from Dawson City to West Dawson. To plan your travels accordingly, this border typically opens around mid-June and closes around mid-October, but last year it closed on September 1st, 2022 due to staffing shortages / pandemic challenges…so be prepared!
Tips & Advice for the First-Time Alaska Traveler
Distances Between Towns: While Canada is vast and the distance between towns can be 150+ miles, once you cross into Alaska the time and distance between towns and villages is much less, because there are simply more people living in Alaska.
Self-Help Resources: Before heading across the Canadian border, do a safety check of your rig, get quality tires, brakes, bearings, etc. Mechanics are relatively plentiful, but getting specific parts for a vehicle/RV can be a 2-3 week wait, so bring spare parts that you’ve needed in the past. Carry at least 5 gallons of extra gas and extra water, a full spare tire (or two if you can), tire repair kit, windshield repair kit, 12V air compressor, tire chains/cables, and tools to change a tire.
There are many RVers and truckers moving along the highways, and these people are used to helping each other out. On our way up we played leapfrog with many of them. Some RVers travel in caravans to feel safer and share in the comradery, but honestly you’ll find so many people on the road that you’ll never really be alone and will likely have help in case of a breakdown.
Everyone likes to complain about the price of gas, no matter where you live. Canadian pumps measure in liters (3.8 liters = 1 gallon) and generally their gas is more expensive, though you do get some of that back in the exchange rate. For the last 3 years, the exchange rate has been $1 CAN = $ 0.77 US, making everything about 25% less expensive for US citizens. The most we paid for gas was around $7 US per gallon, in one of the most remote areas along the ALCAN. In all honestly, they could have charged us $20 as they are the only station around for 200 miles in either direction. In Alaska, gas/diesel was $1-2 more per gallon than average prices in most of the lower 48 (except the PNW and California which are always high!). So our advice is just pay it and thank them for having gas so that you can make this incredible journey of a lifetime.
Community on the Road: Community is plentiful as the people who live and travel in Alaska are quite friendly. If you’ve traveled in Texas or the UP of Michigan (in fact there’s a special connection between these places), you’ve probably experienced this level of friendliness.
Taking the Ferry To / From Alaska
If you want to mix up the drive, and ferry a portion of the way, any combination of is possible. This is a stunning journey, truly a trip of a lifetime. It’ll save you time, but it is an expensive option. We cannot quote prices here as everything depends upon what size of vehicle you are bringing, where you travel from/to, and what time of year. Your best bet is to check out the Alaska Marine Highway System website.
You can board the ferry in Bellingham, WA (or drive to Vancouver or Prince Rupert, BC then get on board), and proceed along the inner passage to many of the more popular places in Alaska to disembark, including: Seward, Homer, Valdez, AK. It’s also possible to disembark in Haines or Skagway and drive through part of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Or, do this same itinerary in reverse.
There are inside and outside spaces for seating. On our first voyage we noticed some experienced travelers who brought sleeping pads and bags for the most comfortable outside recliner on the top deck. Also, send one member of your party to walk aboard and get your seats, while the other drives the vehicle aboard. If you’re going to bring your RV on board, make sure your backing up skills are spot on as you’ll be backing up from the parking lot, across the gangway, and making a hard turn once in the hold. While there’s no shortage of professional crew members to help, you have to drive/back up your own vehicle and it’s a tricky maneuver.
Many people are worried about crossing the Canadian border with their RV. We’ve probably done this 12-15 times with Hamlet over the past decade, without a problem. But, the rules and regulations are constantly changing and each agent / border crossing checkpoint seems to interpret them differently or have different requirements in that region, or enforce different policies. Therefore, it’s important to know and understand the stated rules as there are a lot of rumors out there! Here are the basics of what you need to know, but we highly encourage you to read the Canadian border crossing website for details.
Tips & Warnings:
- Even with all the COVID craziness, the Canadian border is open and has been since August 2021. You need a valid passport book or passport card (with an expiration date greater than 6 months out), but no vaccination is needed to cross into Canada at this time.
- Be prepared to have your rig searched. While this is not a regular occurrence, we’ve had agents step inside and peak around. Also, if you have a safe in your rig, know the combination and be prepared to open it for an agent if asked to do so, even if there’s nothing in it. You just need to prove that if asked.
- If you have had a DUI at any point in your lifetime, be prepared to be pulled aside and questioned. While this is not our personal experience, we have heard some interesting stories from others. This could add several hours to your border crossing.
- Declare what you have with you! It’s better to have to turn it over or mail it back home, than to get fined, or turned around, for not declaring it – then you get put on a list…and nobody wants to be on a list.
- You cannot bring handguns, cannabis, illegal drugs, houseplants, or firewood into Canada. Some border agents/check points are picky about fruits/vegetables. For instance, we couldn’t bring apples across the border from Haines, AK to British Columbia.
- You can bring bear spray (one per person) but NOT pepper spray for personal defense, alcohol and food (there are some quantity-based regulations here), some hunting and fishing gear (check regulations carefully), most pets (with appropriate shots and paperwork from your vet), boats, bikes, and other outdoor toys.
Life Above the 60th Parallel!
Once you reach the Yukon along the ALCAN Highway, you are above the 60th parallel. Life at this latitude is typically slower paced, gorgeous, mostly remote, and very friendly.
With only 44K people living in the Yukon Territory (28K of them live in Whitehorse, the only major city) and another 733K living in Alaska, the overall population is similar to the size of a large city in the lower 48. Combined, this is equivalent to the population of Seattle or San Francisco. In the Yukon, there are 8 municipalities which include 1 larger city and 7 small villages. In Alaska, there is 1 large city, a few dozen small towns, and a couple hundred smaller villages.
We came prepared to be very self-sufficient; In some cases this was helpful, but in others it really wasn’t as necessary. We were pleasantly surprised to find so many services readily available!
Food & Drink: While somewhat expensive overall, it is readily available in Alaska. Most people stock up in the cities on their way through, though some of the local Three Bears Alaska stores found in small villages have some interesting products that you won’t find in other places. They are worth a look!
Eating out is even more expensive, but definitely worth it. We are vegetarians and didn’t have any trouble finding good options on menus. Note: RVing to Alaska Facebook Group highlights a different restaurant each week. And if you’re into Thai and Chinese food, you are in luck!
Alcohol is not really more expensive in Canada or Alaska, though they are quite serious about carding every person in your group even if you are only buying 1 bottle of wine and have gray hair. Don’t argue with them, just have your ID ready. It’s the law and they follow it.
Cell Service & Starlink: We expected to have very little Verizon service in Alaska, but honestly, it was just fine near where people live. There are a few sections of more remote roads without cell service. On the other hand, in British Columbia and the Yukon, there are hundreds of miles of highway through the wilderness without any sort of cell signal. Starlink was not yet working when we were there in 2022, but it has now reached many parts of Canada and Alaska since then and is continuing to expand. In fact, we recently witnessed firsthand the Falcon 9 rocket take 52 more Starlink satellites into space from the Vandenberg Space Force base on the coast of California. But we digress…
Gas & Propane: Once in Alaska, gas availability is more frequent, reliable, and easy to find along the major routes. Most gas stations also offer propane refills, but we recommend keeping up those ALCAN habits, especially when driving in the interior. Fewer people = fewer services.
Water Refills & Dump Stations: In addition to finding these in just about every campground (some have boil or treat recommendations), you will also find them in gas stations, along roadsides near common camping areas, or in villages – so that you’ll stop and shop. Overall, Alaska and Canada are very RV friendly!
Laundromats & Showers: These services are available in nearly every small town and even in the more remote villages. Many times, you’ll find them within the same business so that you can wash yourself and your clothing at the same time! In some places along the Parks Highway (between Fairbanks and Anchorage), you’ll even find a couple of gas stations with a basement that has very clean and well-kept laundry and shower facilities.
Amazing Wildlife!
By Land: While traveling through British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory in June & October, we saw some incredible wildlife just along the road – everything from black and grizzly bears to stone sheep and wood bison. It was spring and fall when we traveled through Canada, so the wildlife was abundant. While in Alaska, most of the wildlife we saw was within the boundaries of the national parks. During the summer, most of the bears, sheep, and moose move up into the hills where their food is plentiful and the people (and vehicles) are not.
And, clearly, since we are writing this post-trip, we didn’t get eaten by a bear. We didn’t have a single scary encounter. Being bear aware is super important, but you don’t need to be bear terrified!
Mosquitoes & Other Pesky Bugs: Depending on where you happen to be and when, these bugaboos range from non-existent to absolutely maddening. We found that they were to worst in June and early July, and mostly in the interior mountains rather than coastal areas. But, after mid-July, we were not bothered much at all. We think we counted 3 mosquitoes during our week in Denali in early August. We came fully equipped to deal with these pests – check out our blog for the gear that helped us to stay sane with they were abundant.
Camping in Canada & Alaska
Camping varies from boondocking and dry camping options to national park campgrounds to small municipal campgrounds to both public and private big rig RV “parking lots.” There is no shortage of camping options as this part of the world truly caters to RVers of all sizes, shapes, and budgets. We made only 2 camping reservations during our entire trip and never struggled to find a camp. If you want to see where we camped and boondocked in Alaska, here’s our list of campground reviews on The Dyrt PRO. In addition to The Dyrt PRO app to find campgrounds, we used WikiCamps Canada and iOverlander to find good boondocking spots in Canada.
$ = Free to $20 per night offering minimal services, and no hook-ups.
$$ = $20 - $50 per night, some may have hook-ups.
$$$ = $50+ per night with hook-ups.
Boondocking & Dry Camping ($): We were pleased to find literally thousands of places to boondock or dry camp – from roadside pullouts every few miles along the ALCAN to recreational sites to provincial parks. Most are free, while others are inexpensive and all of them are beautiful.
Recreation Sites ($): We enjoyed these sites in Alaska and Canada. They are often small (5-10 sites), but beautiful and usually free! They are also typically open earlier in the spring and later in the fall than the options below.
Provincial & State Parks ($): We explored numerous state and provincial parks, all of which offer dry camping. These low key and beautiful campgrounds, minimal services, and are all first-come, first-served. We never encountered a single one that was full, or even close, even on the weekends.
Boondockers Welcome & Harvest Host ($): If you happen to be members of these organizations you can save yourself a lot of money by searching out places through their apps. Save 15% Off with Our Promo Codes: BWFRIENDS15 (Boondockers Welcome) & HHFRIENDS15 (Harvest Hosts).
Municipal Parks ($$): These range from well-managed and beautiful to old and dumpy, all were first-come, first -served. Some offered electrical hook-ups.
Private RV Parks ($$$): There are numerous RV parks ranging from small family-owned places to mid-sized glorified parking lots along most of the major highways, often congregating around cities and small towns. All offer electrical hook-ups and could accommodate very large rigs. With the exception of a few, prices seemed to start at around $50 per night.
National Parks in Alaska
Alaska boasts 8 national parks in total. Can you name them all? Of the 8 national parks in Alaska, there are only 3 to which you can drive, 1 to which you can take a ferry with your RV, and the rest require a flight and/or private boat. Let’s break this down…
National Park Camping
Boondocking & Dry Camping ($): We were pleased to find literally thousands of places to boondock or dry camp – from roadside pullouts every few miles along the ALCAN to recreational sites to provincial parks. Most are free, while others are inexpensive and all of them are beautiful.
Recreation Sites ($): We enjoyed these sites in Alaska and Canada. They are often small (5-10 sites), but beautiful and usually free! They are also typically open earlier in the spring and later in the fall than the options below.
Provincial & State Parks ($): We explored numerous state and provincial parks, all of which offer dry camping. These low key and beautiful campgrounds, minimal services, and are all first-come, first-served. We never encountered a single one that was full, or even close, even on the weekends.
Boondockers Welcome & Harvest Host ($): If you happen to be members of these organizations you can save yourself a lot of money by searching out places through their apps. Save 15% Off with Our Promo Codes: BWFRIENDS15 (Boondockers Welcome) & HHFRIENDS15 (Harvest Hosts).
Municipal Parks ($$): These range from well-managed and beautiful to old and dumpy, all were first-come, first -served. Some offered electrical hook-ups.
Private RV Parks ($$$): There are numerous RV parks ranging from small family-owned places to mid-sized glorified parking lots along most of the major highways, often congregating around cities and small towns. All offer electrical hook-ups and could accommodate very large rigs. With the exception of a few, prices seemed to start at around $50 per night.
National Parks in Alaska
Alaska boasts 8 national parks in total. Can you name them all? Of the 8 national parks in Alaska, there are only 3 to which you can drive, 1 to which you can take a ferry with your RV, and the rest require a flight and/or private boat. Let’s break this down…
Denali ($$): Denali is the most visited park in Alaska, and it is very accessible via the Parks Highway from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Reservations are required for all campgrounds within Denali National Park. There are 6 total campgrounds in the park – 3 campgrounds allow RVs, with only 1 (Riley Creek) offering electrical hook-ups, as well as 3 other tents only campgrounds. Riley Creek campground is located near the entrance to the park and reservations book up quickly, so plan 6 months out…or get lucky by staying flexible.
The drive into the park is not difficult, but you must take the bus, walk, or bike in order to get around the park past Savage River (at mile 15), unless you are camping at Teklanika. Be sure to get your transit bus pass when you make your camping reservations.
Tip for Last Minute Travelers! Denali State Park (about 70 miles south of Denali National Park Entrance - a short jaunt by Alaskan standards) does not require reservations and never completely fills up.
Wrangell-St.Elias ($): This is the largest national park in the nation with over 13.2 million acres (situated between the Tok Cut-Off and Valdez) it is located in a very rural and remote part of the state. There are 4 distinct parts of the park, offering both primitive campgrounds and roadside pull offs, but none with electrical hook-ups. All camping is first come-first served.
Wrangell-St.Elias ($): This is the largest national park in the nation with over 13.2 million acres (situated between the Tok Cut-Off and Valdez) it is located in a very rural and remote part of the state. There are 4 distinct parts of the park, offering both primitive campgrounds and roadside pull offs, but none with electrical hook-ups. All camping is first come-first served.
Glacier Bay ($$$): Glacier Bay is the gem of Alaska’s National Parks and is mostly visited by cruise ship passengers who never disembark, but getting there by ferry or plane is another option. There is no RV, van, or camping in your vehicle in the park’s only established campground, Bartlett Cove, as it’s for tents only. The nearby village of Gustavus just opened a tiny RV park (9 sites @$75/ night) so if you want to go here, plan ahead. Glacier Bay is best seen from the seat of a kayak, as it is a sea life wonderland!
If you want to visit the 4 parks ONLY accessible by plane or private boat (noted by purple squares above), you have the option of leaving your rig in storage or at the airport. Accommodations at Katmai and Lake Clark range from national park/private lodges and rustic cabins to private campgrounds and backcountry camping. Keep in mind that most book up many months in advance. At Gates of the Artic and Kobuk Valley, only backcountry camping is available. Most people visiting these parks only fly in for the day, and spend thousands of dollars for the experience, the hearty few can spend weeks here on a backcountry wilderness experience.
The best advice we can offer that will greatly simplify your RV journey, allow you to travel at your own pace without speeding from one reservation to the next, save you a lot of money in the long run, and see some gorgeous remote areas that many others don’t see is to just… GO SOLAR!
Our total cost for camping during our 5 month trip was about $900. We spent about 1/3 of our time in campgrounds and 2/3 boondocking or backcountry camping. If we had paid $50 per night for hook-ups, we would have spent up to $7500.
Even with our small solar system, we only needed to plug in once in those 5 months, and that was after nearly a week of rain and cloudy skies. Solar panels combined with a DC to DC charger will allow you to take advantage of the thousands of places to boondock and/or camp without electrical hook-ups. We have resources galore on our website and can coach you through a DIY solar installation or integration!
This blog contains our affiliate links. As Renogy Solar Ambassadors, we can offer you an additional 10% off nearly every product in their line by using our promo code CANLIFE at checkout. It’s win-win…WE get a small commission, and YOU get a discount. This income helps keep us on the road and all of our resources and solar coaching free of charge. As a part of our business model, we support a variety of nonprofit organizations focused on reducing carbon emissions, environmental education, sustainability, and youth/community development. Thanks for your support of our carbon negative mobile business!
Unforgettable Trips & Tours
Unforgettable Trips & Tours
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Alaska, so we’re only going to discuss a few options, but these are some incredible tours you may consider while you are visiting this amazing state!
Transit Bus & Bus Tours of Denali
Most people access the park road via bus. If you are camping in the park (highly recommend), grab a shuttle, known as the Transit Bus Pass, for the time you are there. These buses allow for hop on / hop off at various stops and can accommodate up to three bikes, but the drivers also stop and point out all the wildlife, and they typically know a lot about the park and wildlife that they love. Or, you could also take a fully narrated adventure in the park, these bus tours are available via a concessionaire. Currently, all buses are required to stop at mile 43 of the park road due to a 2021 landslide, though they hope to have the buses back in full operation by 2024. Based on what we saw in 2022, we believe this date will be much farther in the future!
Sea Kayaking Tours
This is the way to see much of the coastline of Alaska! Every coastal town or village in Alaska will offer a tour by kayak, usually in tandems. You can also rent kayaks in certain places but listen to the advice of locals, the waters can be squirrely with all the inlets, extreme tides, and tidewater glaciers. And, you’ll need to have a wildlife plan for food storage, and bear awareness. Hit us up, as we have lots of advice on this. If you want to sea kayak in Glacier Bay National Park, check out our blog for details on how to plan an adventure you’ll never forget!
Transit Bus & Bus Tours of Denali
Most people access the park road via bus. If you are camping in the park (highly recommend), grab a shuttle, known as the Transit Bus Pass, for the time you are there. These buses allow for hop on / hop off at various stops and can accommodate up to three bikes, but the drivers also stop and point out all the wildlife, and they typically know a lot about the park and wildlife that they love. Or, you could also take a fully narrated adventure in the park, these bus tours are available via a concessionaire. Currently, all buses are required to stop at mile 43 of the park road due to a 2021 landslide, though they hope to have the buses back in full operation by 2024. Based on what we saw in 2022, we believe this date will be much farther in the future!
This is the way to see much of the coastline of Alaska! Every coastal town or village in Alaska will offer a tour by kayak, usually in tandems. You can also rent kayaks in certain places but listen to the advice of locals, the waters can be squirrely with all the inlets, extreme tides, and tidewater glaciers. And, you’ll need to have a wildlife plan for food storage, and bear awareness. Hit us up, as we have lots of advice on this. If you want to sea kayak in Glacier Bay National Park, check out our blog for details on how to plan an adventure you’ll never forget!
You can combine kayaking & tour boats in some areas. Boat tours offer a way to get further out and can be a great day trip option for those less able bodied. Everyone talks about whale watching tours, but the other sea mammals and bird life that you’ll see in the Gulf of Alaska is absolutely top notch! These tours range from a few hours to an entire day on small boats with private captains as well as large commercial operations in every coastal town or village. We had a great experience with Major Marine Tours in Seward, AK -- helpful and friendly staff, very professional and knowledgeable captain, and nice accommodations! We were lucky enough to see an entire pod of Orcas, including babies and several breaching males.
Tidewater glaciers are a spectacle in and of themselves, with their constant calving during the summer months. These can be seen via kayak or tour boat…guess which one offers glacial margaritas? Lots of options in both Gustavus, Seward, and Valdez.
If you are a hiker, quite a few glaciers are accessible on foot – ranging from a short walk (Byron Glacier) to a challenging day-long hikes (e.g., Gulkana Glacier or Exit Glacier to the Harding Icefield). Or, if you want to splurge, fly up to the glacier and take a short walk on the top. No matter which way you choose to approach, be careful, be smart, listen to the local knowledge and advice, and every glacier adventure will be worth it.
Fishing tours are available in nearly every ocean side village, from a few hours to multi-day trips. Halibut, salmon, and trout fishing are the major offerings.
Flightseeing Tours
Float planes are everywhere there is water, and there’s a lot of that everywhere. They are not only designed for tourists, they are a major source of transportation in Alaska due to the incredible amount of water, lack of roads and isolated communities. Various trips focus on different types of sights including glaciers, wildlife, mountains, coast, etc.
Train Rides
If you enjoy train travel, the ride from the coastal town of Seward to parts north offers some extraordinarily scenic options along the coast, close to glaciers, and within view of the Alaska mountain range. Check out the Alaska Railroad website for details.
Ferry Rides
Even if you do not take the ferry to get to or from Alaska, we highly suggest taking a ferry somewhere while visiting the state. Cruising along the inlets and fjords makes for an absolutely unforgettable experience. Routes and itineraries are available at Alaska Marine Highway System.
Aurora Borealis Tours
Keep in mind, the best time to see the Northern Lights is when it gets fully dark, which means before June and after September. Various companies offer tours which take you to some stunning places to view the lights.
The Milepost - Side Trips
In the North Country bible, known as The Milepost, there are many side trips off the main road…take them if you have time! We got a tip from some friends to venture off the ALCAN to Atlin, BC (the Shangri-La of BC) and it was so worth it! The options are plentiful – Dawson City, Tuktoyaktuk, Eagle, Prudhoe Bay, and so many more. This guidebook will help you plan some based on your itinerary and schedule.
Float planes are everywhere there is water, and there’s a lot of that everywhere. They are not only designed for tourists, they are a major source of transportation in Alaska due to the incredible amount of water, lack of roads and isolated communities. Various trips focus on different types of sights including glaciers, wildlife, mountains, coast, etc.
If you enjoy train travel, the ride from the coastal town of Seward to parts north offers some extraordinarily scenic options along the coast, close to glaciers, and within view of the Alaska mountain range. Check out the Alaska Railroad website for details.
Ferry Rides
Even if you do not take the ferry to get to or from Alaska, we highly suggest taking a ferry somewhere while visiting the state. Cruising along the inlets and fjords makes for an absolutely unforgettable experience. Routes and itineraries are available at Alaska Marine Highway System.
Aurora Borealis Tours
Keep in mind, the best time to see the Northern Lights is when it gets fully dark, which means before June and after September. Various companies offer tours which take you to some stunning places to view the lights.
The Milepost - Side Trips
In the North Country bible, known as The Milepost, there are many side trips off the main road…take them if you have time! We got a tip from some friends to venture off the ALCAN to Atlin, BC (the Shangri-La of BC) and it was so worth it! The options are plentiful – Dawson City, Tuktoyaktuk, Eagle, Prudhoe Bay, and so many more. This guidebook will help you plan some based on your itinerary and schedule.
Must Have Resources!
Books & Maps:
Facebook Groups:
Travel & Camping Apps:
A Trip of a Lifetime!
No matter what you do in Alaska, when you go, how you drive ferry or fly, the trip is guaranteed to be one to remember. And if you plan to do it in your RV, don't let the fears of what could happen stop you from embracing what will.
No matter what you do in Alaska, when you go, how you drive ferry or fly, the trip is guaranteed to be one to remember. And if you plan to do it in your RV, don't let the fears of what could happen stop you from embracing what will.
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